In this file photo provided by Harpo Studios Inc., Lance Armstrong listens as he is interviewed by talk show host Oprah Winfrey during taping for the show “Oprah and Lance Armstrong: The Worldwide Exclusive” in Austin, Texas. Armstrong confessed to using performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France cycling during the interview that aired Thursday and Friday, reversing more than a decade of denial.

AUSTIN, Texas – Through a marathon mea culpa that spanned two nights on TV, Lance Armstrong spoke almost dispassionately about lying and cheating, about arrogance and bullying, about lost honor, status, achievement and income.

And then Oprah Winfrey asked the former international cycling star about the impact all of this has had on his family and children, and the faade cracked.

He recalled a talk he had last month with his 13-year-old son, Luke, who was born three months after Armstrong won his first Tour de France title in 1999. The father-son chat was prompted after Armstrong heard that Luke had been defending his dad at school.

Armstrong admitted to Winfrey that he is seeking therapy to figure out his “messy life,” why he needed to use performance-enhancing drugs to compete, then was able to lie so easily and adamantly when accused of breaking the rules.

He said the worst moment of his life was when he received the diagnosis of advanced testicular cancer in 1996. And he said that dealing with the shame of his actions and the financial fallout, which likely cost him $75 million in future earnings, has been almost as devastating.

“You cannot compare this to a (cancer) diagnosis, an advanced diagnosis,” Armstrong said. “That sets the bar. This is close.”

An estimated 4.3 million people watched the first part of the interview on Thursday, in which Armstrong confessed to drug use in all seven of his Tour victories. The initial broadcast had about 3.2 million viewers, while subsequent repeats drew another 1.1 million viewers. The telecast ranked No. 2 in primetime Thursday night, according to Zap2It.com, behind Fox’s “American Idol,” which was viewed by 16.2 million people.

The Thursday telecast generated a spurt of donations to Livestrong, the cancer-awareness foundation that Armstrong created in 1997. Foundation spokeswoman Rae Bazzarre said that by late Friday, Livestrong had raised $20,000, three times more than it would raise on a normal day.

“People seem to really understand the importance of our work helping people survive cancer,” she said. “We are so grateful for all that support.”

During Friday’s telecast with Winfrey, Armstrong said having to resign and distance himself from Livestrong in November was “a most humbling moment.” “I never thought they’d leave,” Armstrong said of the foundation, describing the non-profit as his sixth child.

Former teammate Tyler Hamilton, who was one of 11 cyclists to testify against Armstrong in the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency investigation, watched the confession of his former close friend.

“He’s broken. He’s broken,” Hamilton told the Associated Press. “I’ve never seen him even remotely like that. It doesn’t please me to see that.”

Armstrong’s interview failed to resonate with some of his former fans.

Austinite Blake Miller once admired Armstrong, collecting memorabilia such as a signed Wheaties box, two framed, signed posters from the Ride for the Roses, a fan/paddle from his sixth win celebration and a banner.

“I donated all my autographed Lance items to Goodwill last weekend,” Miller said. “Maybe they can get a dollar or two for someone in need.”

Armstrong acknowledged that he disappointed so many of his fans, the ones who bought yellow Livestrong bracelets and helped his foundation raise nearly $500 million.

“I understand your anger, your sense of betrayal,” Armstrong said of his fans. “You supported me forever and you believed in me, and I lied to you. And I’m sorry. I will spend . I will commit to spend as long as I have to make amends knowing full well I won’t get many (supporters) back.”

His children, especially the three oldest, have accepted his apology, Armstrong said.

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